Murals on view on the Civic Square construction fence in downtown Seattle.

Civic Square Fence

Three mural artists and artist-teams have created 200-foot long murals now on view on the Civic Square construction fence in downtown Seattle, between Third and Fourth avenues and James and Cherry streets. Celebrating Seattle's vibrancy and cultural life, the murals are sited on the fence surrounding the construction site where a mixed-use, high-rise tower and open space will complete the city's Civic Center Campus, which includes City Hall, Seattle Justice Center and Seattle Municipal Tower. Construction is currently on hold, and the fence will remain in place until development at the site occurs.

Funding for the Civic Square fence project is provided by Triad Development Inc.

HEBRU BRANTLEY

Chicago graffiti artist Hebru Brantley's mural consists of multiple representations of Brantley's original character, Fly Boy. The characters are yellow-goggled boys who pay homage to World War II's Tuskegee Airmen. Brantley intends for the work to transform James Street into an outdoor gallery. Each whimsical variation of the Fly Boy or Girl will be used as guardians of the city. The piece is titled "Traveling With Out Movement" and features spray paint, acrylic and house paint.

HOLLIS + LANA

Drawing inspiration from the Seattle's landscape and color palette, "Rain Shadows and Ripples" represents an ephemeral forest, home to unique creations. Referencing the asymmetric mirroring occurring in nature, the mural presents moments of chaos and calm, organic growth, patterns, and the transitions between natural forms. We see Seattle as a rain shadow for our work that provides a place for our gentle imaginings to roam and prosper. Our work allows for different interpretations every day. However, the central figures in the mural appear to be guardians welcoming or defending a world of imagination and visual exploration.

JOSEPH PARK & CLAUDE ZERVAS

Joseph Park and Claude Zervas have collaborated to create a large-scale abstract mural of interweaving linear geometric patterns using transparent glazes and paint gradients. The mural is formally based on interweaving linear geometric patterns generated using custom computer software, written by Claude Zervas, and then painted by hand on the final mural surface.

Four artists have been commissioned to create temporary interventions in the Seattle Center Poetry Garden to call attention to the unique character of the site, a space designed to ask visual artists to draw inspiration from the written word.

Find Art in your Neighborhood

We invite you to chart your own course through the city keeping an eye out for art in unexpected places. Art gives shape to Seattleʼs urban fabric. Since 1973, Seattle has proudly supported this endeavor with its 1% for Art program. Venture into Seattleʼs many neighborhoods and find other engaging works of art. The cityʼs collection includes more than 400 permanent public artworks. Enjoy your journey. We hope you are inspired, delighted and challenged along the way.

Browse the Collection

The collection includes more than 400 permanently sited and integrated works. Artworks are commissioned through a public process. Panels comprised of professional visual artists along with community and city representatives evaluate the artist applicants. The city stewards and maintains its artworks through an ongoing program of coordinated conservation activities, which include inspections, major restorative work and routine maintenance.

The city's Portable Works Collection is a rotating collection of nearly 3,000 artworks in all media, representing hundreds of artists collected by the city since 1973. The collection includes sculpture, painting, mixed media, prints, photography and textiles.